The proposal to expand the Mt Piper power plant identifies Springvale Colliery as the source for any additional water resources needed for the plant. A large diameter pipeline from that mine is being laid now, even though the power station’s expansion plans have yet to be approved.

“A deal between the NSW Government and the Shooters Party on the Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill would see more hunters and their dogs using national parks for their distasteful blood sport,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.
“The Government should reject the Shooters Party’s bullying and uphold their election promise not to allow hunting in national parks. The Government should support our national park rangers who continue do an excellent job on pest management despite the problems caused by hunters,” he said.

The current State Plan Review has proposed massive tourist development with weaker development control. The State’s oldest wilderness protection group, the Colong Foundation, fears this proposed strategy for NSW will target national parks and other environmentally sensitive areas currently protected by ‘red tape’.

Our national parks now confront the biggest attack on their nature conservation principles since the National Parks and Wildlife Act came into being in 1968. Plans for commercial development and blood sport threaten the very idea of national parks.

“The decision to put the new highway to the west off the Blue Mountains plateau down the existing road alignment using a short tunnel and ramp is may be the ‘least worst option' but will have major impacts on the local environment,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

Director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness, Keith Muir, called on the Coalition Parties to confirm its opposition to mining in national parks, following proposals by Pangaea Resources to explore for coal seam gas in the Blue Mountains .
“In 1990 the Coalition passed the National Parks and Wildlife (Mining Prohibition) Amendment Act that prevented the exploration and mining of national parks in NSW,” said Muir.

“The approval of Peabody's massive coal Metropolitan mine extension will allow coal mining under the stored waters behind Woronora Dam, so the mining boffins that have got it so wrong in the past, better have it right this time”, warned Mr Keith Muir, director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“Today the Coalition parties made a strong stand for wildlife and national parks by opposing most of the Shooters Party proposed hunting legislation. They have taken the middle ground from the Government on this issue”, said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“Last week the Shooters Party introduced legislation into the NSW Parliament to allow hunting in national parks, and which would also allow native species to be hunted,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.
“The Colong Foundation for Wilderness calls on all major parties to throw this wretchedly damaging the Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill out of Parliament into the gutter where it belongs”, he said.

“Today the Colong Foundation welcomes the announcement of a 119,000 hectare Yengo Wilderness, which expands the wilderness estate in NSW to over two million hectares,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

Woronora and four other dams south of Sydney provide essential water supplies to Sydney and Wollongong but these supplies are imperilled unless the intensity of underground coal mining in the region is curbed.

Lithgow Council needs to consult with the public on the future of Hassans Walls, its biggest conservation asset.
“Adequate public consultation on developments, such as recently approved mountain bike race track, is essential for public reserves, like Hassans Walls”, said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“ Newnes Plateau is a natural wonderland just to north Lithgow and from today it is safe from any further plans by the RTA to upgrade Great Western Highway ,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.
“ The Colong Foundation welcomes t he RTA's decision to throw out the Newnes option for the Highway upgrade because it was a too expensive and conflicted with Defense requirements at Marangaroo , near Lithgow ”, he said.

“Centennial Coal is making misleading assertions in regard to the damage caused by Springvale Colliery. A crack in the sandstone bed under East Wolgan Swamp that captures 7 megalitres of water a day with no detectible re-emergence of flow downstream cannot be described by the company as ‘ minor damage' .

“On Monday Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally approved six shooting ranges and car parking for 200 cars on 1000 hectares of former conservation reserve that adjoins the Heritage listed Nattai Wilderness, the first wilderness to be protected in NSW.